Redistribution of Mass on the Earth&#39;s Surface to Offset Induced Earth Axis Wobble

ABSTRACT

A method and system for remediating the induced effects on the earth&#39;s wobble by the extensive relocation of mass on the earth&#39;s surface by the redistribution of mass on the earth&#39;s surface to offset induced earth axis wobble. Specifically relocating water to areas of the earth to correct or otherwise change the wobble of the earth&#39;s rotation.

BACKGROUND Field of Invention

This invention relates to a method and system for remediating the effects of massive dislocation of mass on the earth's surface by redistribution of mass on the earth's surface to offset induced earth axis wobble.

Background

As is well known, “Earth does not always spin on an axis running through its poles. Instead, it wobbles irregularly over time, It is reported that ‘“Since 2000, the Earth's axis has jumped eastward by about 7 inches a year, a ‘“massive swing,”’ Adhikari said. Another pattern of wobbling that occurs every six to 14 years has been vexing scientists for more than a century . . . The movements of the Earth's axis are crucial to understand, since they affect the performance of satellites and global positioning systems. The polar axis also could become a powerful indicator for scientists studying climate change, Adhikari said.”’ From a paper published in Science Advances, Surendra Adhikari and Erik Ivins of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

When hydrocarbons, either solid or liquid, are removed from a particular location in the Earth's crust and burned, the products of combustion are heat, water vapor and ash, all of which are eventually substantially redistributed throughout the atmosphere. Therefore, those masses are effectively removed from their original locations on the rotating planet causing an imbalance and change in the center of mass of the Earth, thereby affecting the axis of rotation of the Earth. Moreover, during this last 100 years period some 100 trillion tons of mass have been redistributed on the planet Earth. Some latest estimates are that there is about 80.622 million barrels/day current global oil production and a total that is beginning to approximate 1 trillion barrels cumulative since fairly accurate records began in 1900. wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_oil_production). Moreover, much of this mineral extraction and loss of weight occurs at locations that have the most significant effect on the earth axis wobble. At a 2010 AGU Conference on Complexity and Extreme Events in Geosciences in India a paper Consequences of Fossil Fuel Extraction on the Climate Change of the Earth it was reported that “The understanding of the causes of climate change of the earth is a very complex process. It cannot be explained on the basis of one or two factors because it is governed by the various processes going on for a long time in the solar system. We are creating more complexity in the climate change by ruthless exploitation of natural resources of the earth , which is resulting in the climate change at a faster rate. The climate change such as global warming due to burning of fossil fuels, i.e. coal, minerals, gases etc. is well reported in the literature, but very little work has been done on the contribution of the extraction of fossil fuel from the earth's crust, in changing various physical properties of the earth, affecting the climate of the earth. The extraction of fossil fuels is a very old practice but for last 6-7 decades, and has increased very rapid. The imbalance between extraction and generation of fossil fuel is increasing day by day, which is changing the climate, of the earth in a different way. The change in the mass of the earth due to the extraction of fossil fuel from the earth's crust is changing the moment of inertia of the earth because the extraction is at the farthest distance from the axis of rotation. Thus, a small change in the mass in the earth crust will affect the moment of inertia substantially. In order to conserve the angular moment (L=IW), the angular frequency of the earth on its own axis as well as around the sun, must change. On the other hand the extraction of fossil fuels may not be uniform throughout the earth, as the extraction in northern hemisphere is reported to be much higher than in southern hemisphere which may cause weight imbalance around the axis of rotation of the earth as well as around the sun. This may result in the change of the angle of tilt of the earth. This change in the tilt may be a very important factor, contributing in changing the climate at various places of the earth. Thus, the extraction of fossil fuels may contribute to the change in various mechanical properties of the earth, making the process of climate change such as global warming more complex to understand.”

In a paper published in Science Advances, Surendra Adhikari and Erik Ivins of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., researched how the movement of water around the world contributes to Earth's rotational wobbles. “The finding was a surprise. This region has lost water mass due to depletion of aquifers and drought, but the loss is nowhere near as great as the change in the ice sheets. So why did the smaller loss have such a strong effect? The researchers say it is because the spin axis is very sensitive to changes occurring around 45 degrees latitude, both north and south. ‘“This is well explained in the theory of rotating objects,”’ Adhikari explained. ‘“That's why changes in the Indian subcontinent, for example, are so important.”’ The 45 degree latitude is about half way from the pole to the equator. The top mid globe from about 20 to 40 degree latitude includes most of North American, central India and the Saudi Arabian peninsula. It is this area where mineral extraction has been predominate. It is this are where weigh distribution has the largest effect the earth axis wobble. Large changes of weight at the pole have little effect on the earth axis wobble and neither does weight redistribution at the equator (the center of the sphere). At a 2010 AGU Conference on Complexity and Extreme Events in Geosciences in India a paper “How Oil Puts the Planet on Tilt: it was reported that.”

A previous patent application 20100158618; published Mar. 4, 2010 was filed related to the subject matter of this application, the disclosures of which are incorporated here by reference.

Since it appears that a large change in the earth axis wobble has occurred in recent years, it is the purpose of the present invention to, at least partially, restore the weight distribution to its condition over the last 100 years and particularly the last few decades by offsetting the lost of weight in the strategic central earth region (20 to 60 degree latitudes) by replacing the lost weight with water, especially seawater.

SUMMARY

This invention relates to a method and system for remediating the effects of extensive relocation of mass on the earth's surface by redistribution of mass on the earth's surface to offset induced earth axis wobble.

DRAWINGS

The invention may be readily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art without the benefit of a drawing and will be explained by illustrative reference to the earth.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is a method and system for reversing the effects of mineral extraction on the movement of the earth's axis, earth axis wobble, by replacing the weight of removed minerals with water. It may also apply to replacement of water lost from strategic areas of the earth by drought and climate change.

In a paper published in Science Advances, Surendra Adhikari and Erik Ivins of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., it was observed that “ . . . around the year 2000, Earth's spin axis took an abrupt turn toward the east and is now drifting almost twice as fast as before, at a rate of almost 7 inches (17 centimeters) a year. ‘“It's no longer moving toward Hudson Bay, but instead toward the British Isles,” said Adhikari.” ‘“That's a massive swing.” ‘Adhikari and Ivins set out to explain this unexpected change.” It was also stated It was also stated that “The movements of the Earth's axis are crucial to understand, since they affect the performance of satellites and global positioning systems. The polar axis also could become a powerful indicator for scientists studying climate change.”

An LSU (Louisiana State University) paleoclimatologist Kristine DeLong has discovered a surprising connection between the earth obliquity (earth's tilt) and the movement of a low pressure band of clouds that is the Earth's largest source of heat and moisture—the Intertropical Convergence Zone, or ITCZ. This finding shows that the tilt of the Earth plays a much larger part in ITCZ migration than previously thought, which will enable climate scientists to better predict extreme weather events. Earth's Tilt influences climate change, December; Louisiana State University.

Thus, stabilizing the axis wobble to an earlier period, such as about a 100 years ago or even to that of about the year 2000, will have the benefit of stabilizing climate change, and the performance of satellites and global positioning system and some of the indicators of climate change.

In broad aspect, this invention is the remediation of the loss of earth surface weight caused by extraction of minerals, particularly oil and coal. This is accomplished by replacing the lost weight by water and particularly seawater in those locations where the greatest weight loss occurs. The replacement may be partially into subterranean caverns and geological formations that have been depleted of minerals and in surface reservoirs. The replacement will be made in the location between the 20 and 60 degree latitude and especially around the 45 degree latitude (40 to 50 degree latitude). This will have the greatest effect on the earth axis wobble.

Reservoirs will be constructed in appropriate locations to contain the water used for replacement of removed minerals. For example, reservoirs can be located in isolated area between the 20 and 60 degrees latitude and optionally between latitude 40 and 50 degrees—North America and central India. These will be filled with water pumped from the nearest and convenient sea location or other source of sufficient water. Seawater is preferred. These salt-water reservoirs can be use for recreation and preferable can be a source for desalination plants that will convert the seawater to fresh water to supply agricultural and human needs in area that have otherwise been drought strickened. Currently most desalination plants are located on seacoasts. These reservoirs will allow desalination for inland reservoirs and will facilitate settlement and agriculture in areas not now available. Desalination of inland saltwater reservoirs in desert regions will be especially useful as the soil, when supplied with water, is very fertile, and has not been depleted by prior natural or intentional vegetative growth. The availability of potable water will also make these areas more habitable for settlement from other over populated areas.

Reservoir Sizing

The annual production of oil worldwide is estimated to be about 80,622,000 bbl/day. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_oil_production. That translates to 80,622,000 bb1/day×365 days×42 gal./bbl×7.21 lb./gal./2000l b/ton=4,455,546,612.30 tons/year. Reservoirs of 164,217.4 acres, 20 feet deep will contain the weight of water equal to the weight of the annual oil production. Many Texas reservoirs are 20,000 or more acres, so bout eight (8) 20,000 acre reservoirs 20 feet deep (93,284,348 acre feet) will contain sufficient weight to offset the weight of annual oil extraction. These reservoirs can be sited around the world, as in North America, India and Saudi Arabia and provide the benefits described above. Seawater can be pumped to these reservoirs for initial fill and to replenish the water used. There are adequate commercial pump capacity and pump stations capable of accomplishing this. See https://gizmodo.com/the-worlds-largest-water-pump-moves-15-olympic-sized-sw-5800072.

Moreover, much of the oil production weight will be replaced by injection water into the geological formation from which the oil was extracted. Therefore, the volume of reservoirs outlined above will exceed the annual need and will begin replacement of past extraction. More reservoirs will facilitate greater past weight loss.

Annual coal production is estimated for 2019 as about 7727.3 in 2019 MM tones or 7727.3×1.1=ca. 8,500 mm tons/year. Replacement of this weight will require more reservoirs, but there is a trend to use depleted open mine as reservoirs, thus reducing the need for new ones. See, for example, https://psmag.com/news/viewfinder-a-former-coal-mine-is-flooded-to-create-an-artificial-lake.

Total mineral extraction is about 13,000 mm tons/year=9,582,780 acre foot/20=779,139 acres of reservoirs of 20 ft depth per year.

Subterranean Storage

Water injected into abandoned wells will replace natural gas that has collected there and the gas can be recovered as a possible partial source of energy to operate the necessary water pumps used to bring the water to the subterranean locations.

There can be many combinations of materials and locations suitable for the purpose of this invention, which combination selection might be made with regard to available resources and expense. This material, substance, or substances may be any material of adequate density, including water or soil.

The approach is to begin addressing the current effects of mineral production and once that was being replaced, redouble efforts to replace mass from prior years all the while bringing on additional production that is being accounted for by redistribution of mass.

Although the invention hereof has been described by way of specific embodiments, it will be evident that other adaptations and modifications can be employed without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The terms and expressions employed herein have been used as terms of description and not of limitation; and thus, there is no intent of excluding equivalents, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover all equivalents that may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A method to reducing the effects of the earth's rotational axis caused by removal of minerals and redistribution of water on the earth's surface comprising the followings steps: a) determine the amount and rate of removal of minerals and/or water from a site on the earth's surface; b) replace the weight of the removal of minerals and/or water from a site on the earth's surface with seawater by pumping water into subterranean reservoirs from which the minerals have been removed or into surface reservoirs.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the water is seawater or oil well used water.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein water is pumped into subterranean geological strata containing natural gas and wherein the natural gas is forced to the surface by the injected water.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein some of the natural gas is recovered and used as a power source for pumps to pump water into the reservoirs
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the weight of water is pumped into reservoirs at locations on the earth between 40 and 50 degrees latitude.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein there are desalination facilities disposed adjacent to the reservoirs.
 7. The method of claim 5 wherein there is more water pumped into the reservoirs than the weight of the annual oil production.
 8. The method of claim 5 wherein there is more water pumped into the reservoirs than that of the weight of the annual mineral production.
 9. The method of claim 5 wherein the reservoirs are depleted coal mines. 